Chicago North Side

Biking, walking and jogging enthusiasts enjoyed a big victory yesterday when the city announced a new trail, the 312 RiverRun, and broke ground on what will be the breathtaking Riverview Bridge (pictured).

The "3-1-2" RiverRun trail will connect three city parks via one bicycle and pedestrian path for two miles.

It'll be great for city residents to have safe and easy access to the green spaces of Clark, California, and Horner Parks, all lining the river.

The Active Transportation Alliance compiles a list of events happening each month along the Lakefront Trail. See what's going on in the month of October so you can better plan your walking, biking or running route.

For regular updates about the Lakefront Trail, follow our Lakefront Trail Twitter page and the #chiLFT hashtag.

Coming up with creative ways to add trail segments along highly developed areas and ensuring that neighborhood residents are involved in the process of planning new trails are top priorities of Active Trans' campaign for a continuous Chicago River Trail.

One area that presents opportunities and challenges is the 1.75-mile stretch from Lake Street in the Loop to the Amtrak vertical lift bridge in Chinatown.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) chairs the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council (MBAC), which meets quarterly at city hall, and is open to the public for anyone to attend.

The meetings are a great way to stay informed about CDOT projects and hear about initiatives and improvements to infrastructure around the city. 

Have you ever wondered why you felt better after spending time in nature or exercising by water? You experienced this because research shows these activities improve mood, cognitive functioning and self-esteem.

That is just one of the reasons why creating more green space like trails in urban areas is critical.

Over 50 percent of the world's population lives in cities and that number will rise to 70 percent in the next twenty years.

At the same time, city residents are more likely to have an anxiety and mood disorder than those in rural areas.

Do you have ideas for improving walking or biking in your neighborhood?

If your ward hosts a participatory budgeting process, you might have an opportunity to put your idea up for a vote.

All you have to do is snap a photo of the area you would like to improve and contact your alderman to propose the changes you would like to see.

The Active Transportation Alliance compiles a list of events happening each month along the Lakefront Trail.

See what's going on in the month of September so you can better plan your walking, biking or running route.

For regular updates about the Lakefront Trail, follow our Lakefront Trail Twitter page and the #chiLFT hashtag.

Recent reports out of San Francisco and New York City find that ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber are contributing to increased traffic congestion and could be hurting transit ridership.

The San Francisco study found that ride-hailing vehicles travel approximately 570,000 miles within city limits on a typical weekday.

Join us Sunday, September 17 for a bike tour of the Chicago River's South Branch. We'll celebrate the Chicago River Trail campaign's first year and demonstrate our support for a continuous trail. 

Riders will meet at 10 a.m. at Federal Plaza (Adams/Dearborn) and head south for a 12-mile trip. Along the way, we'll discuss plans to improve the river and opportunities to add trail segments. 

The route includes stops at the river's south fork, La Villita Park and Eleanor Street Boathouse. The ride will conclude at noon in Ping Tom Park in Chinatown.